I remember working in the 1980′s as an engineer in a union shop in Louisville KY. I was forbidden from even touching a tool by shop rules.
We had a defective pump/motor that needed to come out.
I called for an electrician. But it was 20 minutes until the start of break, so the electricians were putting away their tools and “washing up” so they would be clean in preparation for their break.
I waited, the line down.
The break ended, and about 10 minutes later, the electrician appeared (without tools) then went back to the shop to get his tools and returned in another 15 minutes.
The electrician opened the cover and unwired the motor. He then stopped and started to leave. I asked why he was leaving without finishing the job. He told me he could not remove the bearing lube oil cup and needed an oiler (different job classification) for that. Also he would need a pipe fitter to remove the pump pipe connections and a machinist to unbolt the motor from the base.
About 45 minutes later, he returned with the small army of unionists. Each did his specific job and the pump was finally out. After his task was done, each tradesman remained in the area, watching the others work without reporting back to the shop for the next job.
Then just as we were ready to go get the replacement (for some reason, the brothers felt the old pump needed to be completely removed before actually getting a new one from the parts dept, it was 20 minutes PRIOR to lunch and the unionists left to return their tools and wash up for lunch. And about another hour later, the 4 workers returned. Without tools and without the new pump – guess they needed to see if the job had changed before selecting which tools to bring. So then they got the pump and their tools. Another 30 minutes.
Another hour and the pump was running again. Close to half a shift and 4 union trade brothers for a one-man, 30 minute job. I was surprised we didn’t need a carpenter to uncrate the new pump. The steward probably forgot that.
With such amazing productivity, there was small wonder that these brothers were picking up 20+ hours a week in time-and-1/2 and double-time overtime. The common measure of their yearly take was that they should not be paying social security by June.
The plant was later closed and the work transferred to a non-union supplier in North Carolina.
Who could have guessed?
